Egg-tester



(M0de1.).

M. SEXSMITH.

EGG TESTER.

WITNESSES; INVENTOR: w is fi amm ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

MATHEW SEXSMITH, OF WINCHESTER, MISSOURI.

EGG-TESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,176; dated March 29, 1887.

Application filed July I, 1886. Serial No. Q06.81l. (Modem To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, hL-LTIIEXV Snxsrnr'n, of XVinchester, in the county of Clark and the State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Egg-Tester, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to egg-testers, and has for its object the construction of an apparatus by means of which eggs may be subjected to the transmission of light through them in such manner that it can be determined by a visual examination whether they are good or bad.

It consists in a box having a detachablemirror placed at the bottom, a sliding rubber top piece perforated to receive the eggs, together with a hood placed in a vertical position on top of the box, surrounding and shading an adjustable sight-opening through the medium of a non-reflecting front surface, while acting as a reflector from the rear, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1. is perspective view of my eggtester, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof.

A designates a box, made of wood, pasteboard, metal, or any suitable material. In the bottom of the box I provide a sliding shallow drawer, l3, and fasten in this drawer, which completely covers the bottom ofthe box, a mirror, C, of ordinary quicksilver, bright metal, or any suitable reflectingsurface. By means of a knob Iain enabled to draw out the drawer 13, carrying the mirror C, to clean the same in the event an egg should break and spill thereon.

D is a perforated egg-supporter, forming a partial cover to the box A, made to slide in grooves cut therein from the back, the number of perforations being regulated by the size of the tester. In these perforations the eggs to be tested are placed. The perforations are so grouped with respect to each other as that three eggs-the amount conveniently taken up with one hand-can be placed at once without trouble.

The perforated egg-supporter D may be made of wood; .but I use and prefer stout rubber about a quarter of an inch thick, or more,

the eggs fitting tightly in the ri'ibber,owing to its elasticity, and are not so liable to breakage in process of placing them.

On top, at the front of the box A, and completing the cover thereof, I place two slides, H H, each having semicircular recessed inner ends, it h, so arranged that when the slides are brought together, their outer ends flush with the side of the box, they form a central circular sight-opening. These slides H H operate in grooves, one cut in the upper front side of the box A and the other in a brace, I), extending from side to side, and into the opposite face of which the rear end of the rubber perforated egg-supporter D abuts.

\Vhen found advisable thatlittlelight should enter the box, the slides are kept closed and the eggs viewed in the mirror beneath through the circular opening thus formed; but should more light be needed the slides are moved out in opposite directions until the requisite amount isobtaincd.

A hood, K, made preferably ofmetal, is sooured upon the box in a vertical position by means of clamps d d, embracing the box upon its front and side edges and surrounding the sight-opening upon three sides, being open in front and permanently closed on the sides and rear.

I paint the inside of the hood K a dark green, so as to present a non-reflecting surface, to further facilitate the exclusion of the light from the sight-opening and present a more complete shade for the eyes, while the rear outer side I leave bright, thereby forming a reflecting-surface, which aids materially in transmitting the light through-the eggs. The entire inside of the box I paint white, finding it, in practice, preferable to a dark surface.

I sometimes construct my egg-tester with the glass placed upon an incline. When such is the case,the sight-opening and hood are placed upon an incline also. In testing eggs at night a lamp or other bright light is placed so as to shine upon the exposed surfaces of the eggs and the back of the hood During the day sun-light may be utilized.

The construction of my tester is so simple that it can be made very cheap, and in the event of breakage can be repaired by any ordinary mechanic.

The apparatusis desirable for domestic purposes, but more especially important for dealers. I have aimed especially to produce an apparatus in which a number of eggs can be examined at a time and their condition readily and certainly ascertained. The apparatus is based upon the fact that fresh eggs are translucent, and when they become stale or bad they are practically opaque.

In the operation of my invention the eggs are placed in the perforations of the rubber supporter and the transmitted light inspected upon the mirror below through the adjustable sightopening, the inner side of the hood forming a screen from the light and a relief to the operators eye, while the outer rear side aids in transmitting the rays through the surface of the egg.

Centrally to the sides of the box A, I attach strips m, upon which is rested a detachable screen, M, purposed to catch and prevent the breakage of an egg should it fall through the apertures in the perforated egg-supporter D or through the opening in the box covered thereby.

The reflector C in the sliding drawer B need not extend the length and breadth of the box A, it being necessary only that it cover the space under the sliding perforated egg-sup porter D.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with an egg-tester, of a hood held on its top between the egg-receiving and sight openings, and having the side adjacent the egg-openings made as a reflector and the other side of a neutral color, substantially as set forth.

2. An egg-tester constructed with amovable hood placed in a vertical position upon the box and surrounding upon three sides an adjustable sight-opening, the outer rear surface thereof acting as a reflector and the entire inner surface as a non-refleetor, substantially in the mannerand for the purposes herein specified.

3. In an egg-tester,the combination,with the box A, having its inner surface white, provided with the brace b and the bottom drawer, B, carrying a mirror, 0, of the slides H H, operating from the sides of the box and having recessed inner ends, it h, forming an adjustablesight opening, themetalhood K, movably secured to said box by clamps d d, and arubber egg-supporter, D, adapted to be slid out from the back, substantiallyin the manner and GEO. W. HINKLE, IRA BANTA. 

